ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCE

(HVAC)
 VENTILATION
The process of supplying air to any space within a building without
noticeable odor and without objectionable levels of contaminants,
such as dusts and harmful gases, and of removing stale, polluted air
from the space. Outside air is generally used as an acceptable
source of ventilation air.

• Purpose of Ventilation
• Provide fresh air for respiration.
• Preserve the correct level of oxygen in the air.
• Control carbon dioxide content to no more than 0.1%.
Concentrations above 2% are unacceptable as carbon dioxide is
poisonous to humans and can be fatal.
• Control moisture relative humidity of 30% to 70% is acceptable.
• Remove excess heat from machinery, people, lighting, etc.
• Dispose of odours, smoke, dust and other atmospheric
contaminants.
• Relieve stagnation and provide a sense of freshness.
• Natural/Passive Ventilation - is the
ventilation of a building without the use of a fan
or other mechanical system. It is an economic
means of providing air changes in a building. It
uses components integral with construction such
as air bricks and louvers, or open able windows.
Natural ventilation in buildings is caused by the
temperature difference between the air in the
building and the outside air and by openings in
the outside walls or by a combination of both.
The sources for natural ventilation are wind
effect/pressure and stack effect/pressure.
4 Basic Components of Natural Ventilation
System
1. An air source of acceptable temperature,
moisture content, and cleanliness
2. A force to move the air through the
inhabited space of the building
3. A means of controlling the volume, velocity,
and direction of the airflow
4. A means of recycling or disposing of
contaminated air
Positive pressure zone Suction zone Wind diagram for roofs
with pitches up to 30 deg.

Windward side Leeward side

Suction zone
Positive pressure zone
Wind diagram for roofs with
pitches above 30 deg. Windward side Leeward side

Suction zone
Positive pressure zone Wind pressure diagram for
flat roofs
Windward side Leeward side

A and B are the heights

of the cool and warm air A B
stacks respectively

Stack pressure causing cross ventilation

 Duct Roof space

Air inlet at heater Heater

Ventilation for an assembly hall by passing fresh air through heat emitters
 Warm air passing out
of windows

Central core containing

staircases and lifts
Increase in air
temperature

Cold air entering through

door

Stack pressure in a tall building

 Stale air discharge through
terminals at ridge height

Roof space
10cm. To 15cm. Ducts as near
vertical as possible

Bathroom

Fresh air through trickle

vents

Passive Stack
Kitchen Ventilation
diagram to a
dwelling house
• Mechanical Ventilation – is a ventilation of a
building through an air handling unit or direct
injection to a space by a fan. A local exhaust
fan can enhance infiltration or natural
ventilation, thus increasing the ventilation air
flow rate.
Low powered Single ridge outlet
continuously running
extract fan

Extract
ducting

Air inlet

Fire damper
located at
junction with
compartment
boundaries
 Fan

Hanger

Canopy/Hood

Air inlet

Kitchen
 Fan Fan
Motor
Motor
Fan base

Corridor
Ladies room Gents room

Shunt

Service
duct Air inlet grille

Internal sanitary accommodation

 Fan

Large duct over whole of ceiling area to extract 2/3 of

the total volume of air

Small duct around walls to extract 1/3 of total volume

of air

Car parking (Basement)

Extract fan Heating/Cooling unit
Inlet fan Stage extract fan

Downward air distribution

Balcony

Extract grilles
Extract duct

Stage

Mechanical inlet and mechanical extract for theatre

Recirculating duct Extract

Inlet fan Extract fan

Down and up
Ceiling Ventilated light fitting
distribution
diffuser

Mechanical inlet and mechanical extract for an open plan space

 Air extract

Heating coil

Filter
Fresh air inlet Fan
GL

Mechanical inlet and natural extract

 Resin bonded
Square/Rectangular
glass fiber or
steel duct
other insulation Waterproof
adhesive tape
sealant Galvanize steel angle
riveted to duct

Pop riveted
sleeve joint
Bolt holes
Rubber gasket
Circular spirally bounded between steel
Continuous welt
steel duct flanges

Taped sleeve socket joint

or push fit self sealing joint
ARCHITECTURAL SCIENCE
(HVAC)
Cooling - A heat-removal process usually accomplished with air-
conditioning equipment.

Types of Cooling System:

1. Evaporative/Swamp Cooler
2. Compressive Refrigeration
2.1 Window AC
2.2 Split AC
2.2.1 DX System
2.2.2 Package Water Cooled System
2.2.3 Package Chilled Water System
2.3 Central AC System
Distribution Systems:
2.3.1 All Air System
2.3.2 All Water System
2.3.3 Air Water System
3. Absorption Cooling
1. Evaporative/Swamp Cooler - is a device that
cools air through the evaporation of water. It
draws inside/outside air through a wet pad,
such as a large sponge soaked with water.
• Misting fans
A misting fan is similar to a humidifier. A fan
blows a fine mist of water into the air. If the
air is not too humid, the water evaporates,
absorbing heat from the air, allowing the
misting fan to also work as an air cooler. A
misting fan may be used outdoors, especially
in a dry climate.
Misting Fans
• Compressive Refrigeration – is a process in which cooling
is affected by vaporization and expansion of liquid refrigerant.
• Basic Parts of Compressive Refrigeration System:
1. Compressor
2. Expansion valve
3. Evaporator
4. Condenser
5. Fan/Blower
6. Tubes/Pipes
7. Thermostat
Compressor squeezes the vapor into a smaller
volume at high temperature.

Expansion Valve is a devices used to

control the refrigerant flow in a
refrigeration system.
Thermostat is a component of a control system
which senses the temperature of a system so
that the system's temperature is maintained
near a desired set point.
• Air Conditioning - The process of altering air
supply to control simultaneously its humidity,
temperature, cleanliness, and distribution to
meet specific criteria for a space. Air
conditioning may either increase or decrease
the space temperature.
• Types of Air-Conditioner
1. Window AC
2. Split AC
3. Central AC
• Window type AC - is the most commonly used
air conditioner for single rooms. In this air
conditioner all the components, namely the
compressor, condenser, expansion valve or
coil, evaporator and cooling coil are enclosed
in a single box. This unit is fitted in a slot made
in the wall of the room, or often a window sill.
• Split type AC- comprises of two parts: the
outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The outdoor
unit, fitted outside the room, houses
components like the compressor, condenser
and expansion valve. The indoor unit
comprises the evaporator or cooling coil and
the cooling fan. Further, the present day split
units have aesthetic looks and add to the
beauty of the room. The split air conditioner
can be used to cool one or two rooms.
Water Cooled System
• Advantages:
1. All refrigeration cycle components are contained
inside the a/c unit in a room.
2. Usage of the building’s condenser water is
generally less expensive than chilled water.
3. Condenser water piping loops are easily run long
distances and almost always service many a/c
room units from one cooling tower.

• Disadvantages:
1. High initial cost for cooling tower, pump and
piping system.
2. High maintenance cost due to frequent cleaning
and water treatment requirements.
• Central AC/Plant System - The central air
conditioning system is used for cooling big
buildings, houses, offices, entire hotels, gyms,
movie theaters, factories etc. If the whole
building is to be air conditioned, HVAC engineers
find that putting individual units in each of the
rooms is very expensive initially as well in the
long run. The central air conditioning system is
comprised of a huge compressor that has the
capacity to produce hundreds of tons of air
conditioning. Cooling big halls, malls, huge
spaces, galleries etc is usually only feasible with
central conditioning units.
Chilled Water System
• Advantages:
1. Computer air handlers generally cost less, contain
fewer parts, and have greater heat removal capacity
any room a/c unit with the same footprints.
2. Chilled water piping loops are easily run very long
distances and can service many rooms from one chiller
plant.
3. Chilled water system have the lowest cost per kW for
large installations.

• Disadvantages:
1. Chilled water system generally have the highest capital
cost for installation below 100kW of electrical load.
Constant Air Volume
diagram (CAV)
 • Air Handling Unit (AHU)- is a box proportion
to blend the warm and cold air to reach the
desired temperature before distributing the
blended air to the enclosed space.
Coil of heated or
chilled water
Warm Damper Cold Drainage piping
Air Motor Air

Condensate pan

Fan

Fresh air control damper

Room air
AHU
Unit Ventilator
Diffuser
• Heat Pump - " is a term for a type of air
conditioner in which the refrigeration cycle
can be reversed, producing heating instead of
cooling in the indoor environment. They are
also commonly referred to, and marketed as, a
"reverse cycle air conditioner". Using an air
conditioner in this way to produce heat is
significantly more energy efficient than
electric resistance heating.
• Distribution System:
1. All Air System
CAV system
- A single-duct, constant-air-volume (CAV) system delivers conditioned air at a
constant temperature through a low-velocity duct system to served spaces.
- in a single-zone, a master thermostat regulates the temperature for entire
building.
- in a multizone system, separate ducts from a central air-handling unit serve each
of a number zone.

VAV system
- A single-duct, variable-air-volume (VAV) system uses dampers at the terminal
outlets to control the flow of conditioned air according to the temperature
requirements of each zone or space.

Dual-duct system
- A dual-duct system uses separate ducts to deliver warm air and cool air to
mixing boxes, which contain thermostatically controlled dampers.

Terminal Reheat system

- offers more flexibility in meeting changing space requirements. It supplies air at
about (12deg. Celsius) to terminals equipped with electric or hot-water reheat
coils, which regulates the temperature of the air being furnished to each
individually controlled space.
2. All Water System
- pipes are used in this system, which require less installation space
than air ducts, deliver hot or chilled water to fan-coil units in the
served space.
Two-pipe system
- A two-pipe system uses one pipe to supply hot or chilled water to
each fan coil unit and other to return it to the boiler or chilled water
plant.

Four-pipe system
- A four-pipe system uses two separate piping circuits – one for hot
water and one for chilled water – to provide simultaneous heating
and cooling as needed to the various space of a building.

Fan-coils/unit ventilator contain an air filter and centrifugal fan for

drawing mixture of room air and outside air over coils of heater or
chilled water and then blowing it back in the space.

Ventilation is provided through wall opening, by infiltration, or by

separate duct system.
3. Air-Water System
- this system use high-velocity ducts to supply
conditioned primary air from a central plant to
each space or zone, where it mixes with room
air and is further heated or cooled in
induction units.
- the primary air draws in room air through a
filter and the mixture passes over coils that
are heated or chilled by secondary water
piped from boiler or chilled water plant.
- local thermostats control water flow over the
coils to regulate air temperature.
• Air Curtain/Air Door - an air curtain is a
continuous broad stream of air circulated
across a doorway of a conditioned space. It
reduces penetration of insects and
unconditioned air into a conditioned space by
forcing an air stream over the entire entrance.
The air stream layer moves with a velocity and
angle such that any air that tries to penetrate
the curtain is entrained. Air curtain
effectiveness in penetrating infiltration
through an entrance generally ranges from 60
to 80%".
Factors to consider in the selection, design, and installation of
heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system:
• Performance, efficiency and both the initial and life cost of the system
• Fuel, power, air, and water required and the means for their delivery and storage: some
equipment may require direct access to outdoors
• Flexibility of the system to service different zones of a building, which may have different
demands because of use or site orientation. Decentralized or local system are economical to
install, require short, distribution runs, and allow each space or zone to have individual
temperature control, while central system are generally more energy efficient, easier to service
and offer better control of air quality.
• Type and layout of the distribution system used for the heating and cooling media. To
minimize friction loss, ductwork and piping should have short, direct runs with a minimum of
turns and offsets.
• Space requirements for mechanical equipment and its distribution systems. The heating,
ventilating and air-conditioning equipment of a building can often occupy 10%-15% of the
area of the building; some pieces of equipment also require space or a domain for access,
service, and maintenance. Air ducts system require more space than either pipes carrying hot
or chilled water or wiring for electric resistance heating. Duct work should therefore be
carefully laid out to be integrated with the structure and spaces of a building, as well as with
its plumbing and electrical system.
• Access required for service and maintenance.
• Construction requirements for enclosure of the plant, fire resistance, and noise and vibration
control.
• Structural requirements imposed by the weight of the equipment.
• Degree of visibility, whether concealed with the construction or exposed to view. If ductwork
is to be left exposed, the layout should have a visually coherent order and be coordinated with
the physical elements of the space.

Service core
The service core or cores of the building house the vertical distribution of mechanical and electrical
services, elevators shafts, and exit stairways. These cores must be coordinated with the structural layout
of columns, bearing walls, and shear walls or lateral bracing as well as with the desired patterns of
space, use, and activity.

• A single core is often used in high-rise building to leave a maximum amount of unobstructed
rentable area.
• Central locations are ideal for short runs and efficient distribution pattern.
• Placing the core along an edge leaves an unobstructed floor space but occupies portion of the
daylight perimeter.
• Detached cores leave a maximum amount of floor space but require long service runs and
cannot serve as lateral bracing.
• Two cores may be symmetrically placed to reduce service runs and to serve effectively as
lateral bracing, but the remaining floor area losses some flexibility in layout and use.
• Multiple cores are often used in broad, low-rise buildings in order to avoid long horizontal
runs.
• The cores may be dispersed to better serve spaces or zones that have different demands and
load requirements.
• In apartment buildings and other structures housing repetitive units, the cores may be situated
between the units or along interior corridors.